Villordsutch reviews Dirk Gently: The Salmon of Doubt #7…
Sally begins to pierce the mysteries of the Black Wing, as we follow the exploits of not one, not two, but three Dirks!
IDW Publishing’s Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency: The Salmon of Doubt is becoming the perfect partner piece for BBC America/Netflix’s Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Arvind Ethan David is weaving the strands of Dirk-lore very well between both comic book and show, whilst at the same time making sure the comic stays ever so slightly that bit more on the ‘odd’ side of the fence.
Here in Issue#7 of The Salmon of Doubt, subtitled ‘The Blackwing Files’ we meet up with “Big-haired” Dirk and Sally Mills; bundled in the back of the Rowdy 3’s van and currently on the way to “The Facility”, Dirk and Sally’s main conversation is more occupied with his attitude towards her and women in general. This ‘discussion’ however begins to dissipate when they are left at the Facility by the Rowdy 3 and find their way into the Blackwing Files.
Elsewhere Issac Newton and Reg discover that Peasbody the Goblin may not truly be enjoying his current vocation as a cat catcher, while our more energetic younger Dirk ends his meeting with Mr. Spring and Farah clearly isn’t happy.
This month’s issue is very much for the followers of the series – both series I’d say to be totally honest. Numerous strands from the opening chapters are being brought forward with Peasbody and the cats, Dirk and Sally’s fiery relationship in which he misses all her signals, the Blackwing files, Mr. Spring along with Riggins, Friedkin and the Rowdy 3. Everything is bundled into this issue and it’s very busy. If you’ve not been keeping up across both media avenues you may be scratching your head, but if you’ve not been keeping up – let’s be honest – you’ve been missing out!
Arvind Ethan David as ever tells a good story and here he’s dropping in numerous pieces of the tale, though we don’t have exciting flaming drummers and hammerhead sharks in this issue we do have a story and it is bringing all the pieces together, whilst delving further into the Blackwing Files. However, as pointed out above, if you walk into this comic today with barely an understanding of Dirk Gently, you may be a tad confused by the happenings within. This is certainly a comic for those people who have been following this series.
As ever the art and colours from Ilias Kyriazis and Charlie Kirchoff is just excellent for the Dirk Gently series of comics, they both capture the energy and pace of this series to a tee. Along with both their work a special mention must be given for the Blackwing Files photo cover. Normally I like to highlight another artist’s cover, but for fans of the T.V. Series and the comic book this one needs to be looked at carefully.
Rating: 7/10
Originally published April 26, 2017. Updated April 15, 2018.
